birthday

So I’ve been 22…

Mary8 Comments

hello-ive-been

Okay so I didn’t write last year (2016) around my birthday, why? Because I wasn’t writing. Am I getting better now? A little bit but not really. So, in order to try and be a better blogger I’m going to write about 22 so far.

Here’s the thing: I’m feeling it, I’m feeling 22. It’s my Taylor Swift year, and that’s the best way to look at it as a positive thing in my opinion. I have not been taking aging in my twenties thus far very gracefully, each year is met with extreme expectations that are never quite met with the enthusiasm that I picture to be. So, by making this my Taylor Swift year I’m attempting to live my life like the “22” song that everyone seems to be quoting on their Instagrams this fateful year. As well as a host of all the Taylor Swift songs that I’ve ever aspired to see myself in.

Now, I’m the first of my friends for the most who turned 22 back in September, so that’s always been like an existential thing for me, it just makes me feel older than I am. However, I would say this was definitely the best celebration yet for 22 and I had started off my year on quite the kick. By that I mean I got pretty drunk with some of my best friends. I think that set a precedent for 22. Yes, I’m drinking more than I ever have (once a week, chill out, nothing too crazy) but it’s okay. This is my last year as  a pre-adult so I’m doing whatever I want for one more year and I think that’s really okay.

22 so far has been a time for self-actualization and self-love. I’ve been letting myself really do what I want, I mean I’m sure the Zoloft helps with that, but I’m finally doing things that I’ve always wanted to but stopped myself from doing. While I’m still often referred to as mom, I’m doing less-momish things and putting myself first sometimes. Not all the time, I do still have a problem saying no, but I’m trying to get better at it. I’ve also gotten a lot better at trying to make my life work for me, and at the end of the day what’s going to make me happy.

22 so far has been a time for friendships and lack of toxic relationships. The week after my birthday I started cutting out people who were toxic to me because that isn’t something I need to deal with. So I’ve worked on friendships with people who equalize their relationship with me, if that makes sense. Yes friendships are a two-way street, and sometimes they require more give than take, but it shouldn’t be that way all the time. So I found new friends, grew old friendships, formed new ones, and left the bad ones. There are too many good people in this world to surround yourself with people who make you feel bad about yourself.

22 so far has been a time for thoughts surrounding my future, as if that isn’t what I’ve been doing for the past four years of college. However, now it’s different. It’s more real. I’m applying for jobs, seeing what is best for me and my future. I have to think about things like benefits and the cost of living in cities where I apply to jobs compared to the salary. It’s a lot to think about.

So far, I think 22 has been good to me, maybe I’ll update you when I turn 23 about how the rest of the year goes. For now, I’m feelin’ 22.

Are you 22? Did you learn something new about yourself when you were?

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Weekly Average Adventure Log: Week One

Mary4 Comments

 

Week One

This week I arrived in Dublin, Ireland, while I’m here and maybe afterwards, I will be doing a Weekly Average Adventure Log, where my average adventures will be documented.

Sunday

On Sunday I started my journey to Ireland. It was odd because to save money on the flight my family and I drove to New York, so I could fly to Philadelphia, which happens to only be an hour from my house.

This is actually one of the prettiest flights I’ve been on, it was so short the plane couldn’t get the whole way up in the air so the scenery was pretty the whole time.

 

Then I flew from Philadelphia, a very speckled picture of the overview of the city. I watched one movie, put on The Big Bang Theory and fell asleep.

Monday

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Monday I arrived in Dublin. I wanted for a little bit in the airport in some of what I would call a very disorganized fashion. When I finally got to campus, we had less than an hour once we finished paperwork and everything to put stuff in our room and start a walking tour.

After the walking tour I got a quick lunch with some people in my program group.

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Tuesday

Monday was short lived on pictures because I was exhausted. Tuesday was packed filled with more walking tours. Well one walking tour and then trying to find basic supplies needed.

We went to see a castle, just see it. It was very strange because it’s old and then it looks like a lego building.

Wednesday

On Wednesday we walked to Marsh’s Library where you couldn’t take any pictures, so I have this one from the outside.

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Then we went on a bus tour, there was a lot of tours this week. I took this opportunity to see more of the city, and then finally get some hangers after my clothes had been hanging off the top of my wardrobe all week.

The city is huge, like I’ve been here twice before and I’ve only seen parts of the city. It’s a lot bigger than I had originally thought.

The view outside my room is amazing. Here it is at sunset, it’s simply gorgeous.

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Thursday

Thursday was filled with orientations and such.  Things that are supposed to be filled with information but really weren’t. There aren’t any pictures because the most I did was go to the grocery store.

Friday

In the morning we met up to go to Croke Park. It’s where they play Gaelic Football and Hurling, today was the biggest game so they were all getting ready for it.

Also pictured is the chandelier of different sports balls that can no longer be made and the fancy box seat table, the fancy parts of the sports arena essentially.

We got some really good views of the city too.

Then on the walk back I saw a sign for the Guinness Tour, which I actually don’t plan on doing because for someone like me, I think it’s a waste of money. It does seem cool though.

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Friday was the annual Culture Night. We got lost trying to find the Chocolate Factory, but it’s definitely something I will be looking for again in the near future, in general the chocolate is much better here, even like the kind you just get at the store. I also don’t have any decent pictures from that night because I forgot my camera. I did get my bus pass, which will be nice and easy to use to get around the city.

Saturday

Saturday was my birthday. My roommate and I went shopping in the morning. I saw a little flower stand, well actually a lot. I just think they’re so cute.

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We then met up with some other girls in our group for dinner. It was a little more crowded in the city than expected so we couldn’t get into our first few options, but that was actually kind of lucky. I had the best pizza and garlic bread. The garlic bread, which I thought had mozzarella on it, turned out to be chunks of garlic, it wasn’t bad, just different.

Conclusion

So that was my week this week! What did you do? I had a lot of fun, however, the disorganization is getting to me. I am ready for a schedule and to get into the swing of school. Next weekend I’m going to the Cliffs of Moher and I’m so excited, I think it’s one of the prettiest places in the world.

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Late Night Blogging with Mary: Part 13

Mary2 Comments

So it’s not Late Night back in the US, but it is here, it’s actually so late that it just so happens to be my birthday!

Today I went to the National Leprechaun Museum, it lasted all of fifteen minutes since it was the annual Culture Night so they just seemed to give a little snippet of what the museum actually was. It was pretty cool, but the funny thing was the reason we got in was because my birthday was tomorrow at the time.

So yes, I’m 21 now, a real adult. I feel exactly the same. The weird thing was, I didn’t have anything I was really looking forward to about this birthday. Maybe if I was back home I would be super excited since I could legally drink, but I can already do that here. I’m not sure, but it’s a weird feeling.

I think I also need to switch the times on my blog since they’re set to times back in the US, I’m not sure how that all works with posting times and such. There are ways to post in the past which I’ve accidently done before so I want to make sure I’m not doing that again, let me know if you know if I’m doing something wrong. Time is just confusing to me.  I don’t know if I’ll ever understand it.

Classes start Monday and I still don’t have my classes. There seems to be a lack of communication or maybe it’s a lack of understanding on my side, I’m not sure. So that’s a little stressful, but I’m taking my birthday easy, stress free. I’m going to go shopping, find myself a birthday present from me, and go out to dinner with some friends that I met here. Take it nice and easy, no stress, no fuss, just fun.

I need blog post suggestions, I’m struggling again. Leave anything you want to see written in the comments!

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Late Night Blogging with Mary: Part 1

Mary13 Comments

 

As my stats page drops more and more everyday and traffic driving posts aren’t coming to mind, I’ve decided to start a new series. Just late night thoughts and blogging with me, very accurately (this is not the word I wanted to use but I can literally not think of it) named “Late Night Blogging with Mary”. The title image is really big but I’ve worked on it for too long and I give up to be quite honest.

So for this series I’m just going to share my thoughts, like a stream of consciousness type of thing, or just like what I’m up to. I hope to incorporate friends when we have late night talks and thoughts with them and we could share too. You know, just see where it goes.

Tonight I’m thinking about essential oils and how to prevent anxiety when I’m abroad, which will definitely be a whole post. I know that my anxiety gets really bad when I’m uncomfortable. So I’m really trying to plan ahead because I know there will definitely be things that will make me uncomfortable when I’m gone, but I will never want to let that stop me from doing what I want to do in life. Yet that will be a whole post.

I’m also thinking about how I just dyed my hair partially purple and that I really like it. It comes out after like two or three washes. I think I’ll show pictures eventually or maybe next time I do it because I’m definitely going to do it again. I’ve always wanted to dye the tips of my hair a color and I finally did. It feels like refreshing, like out with the old, in with the new, even though it’s only temporary. Maybe one day I’ll do something more permanent…

Today my mom and I were talking about my birthday, because it’s her birthday today. But we were talking about mine because it’s a bigger one, I’m turning 21 in September, however, my birthday is five days after I get to Ireland, where it’s really not as big of a deal and I won’t have friends. So it’s different.

So I’m going on vacation next week and I haven’t said anything about it yet. That’s what I miss about daily blogging. Like I don’t know why I don’t share like things like that anymore, it’s just like a difference. I guess I feel like since I’m sharing less I should like do great quality posts but because of that it’s like whatever now, there’s a lot less character.

One last thing are there like American blogging networks? I follow Loz on Twitter and she and a few other are always tweeting like #nzbloggers (like New Zealand because that’s where she’s from, isn’t that cool??) but is there one for Americans? The blogging community is super interesting to me, but how do I get involved? Anyone know? Is this a thing or should I like start a hashtag or something? Anyone???

Another thing, like what is that saying I was looking for up at the top? If you know, please tell me.

What are we thinking about this new series? Yes? No? Maybe so?

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Birthday Celebrations

Mary1 Comment

First and foremost, I was crap at taking pictures of my birthday at home, I took zero. Good job Mary. Anyway, on Thursday some of my friends (not all are pictured, because again I was crap at taking pictures) and I went to IHOP for my birthday, because IHOP is my favorite restaurant. We had the BEST waitress, probably because Becca made friends with her. She was so sweet and accommodating which is just what we needed since we had to come at different times due to crazy schedules, I’m just glad a large portion of my friends could make it.

Treat yo’ self to chocolate, chocolate chip pancakes (plus iced coffee and sausage). I will admit I ate most of it, surprisingly.

The candids were taken by my friend Zoe. A huge thanks to all of my friends for making me feel special on my birthday. If you’re wondering what I’m wearing, my floral pants are from H&M as well as my pink top (I got it over the summer so they may or may not still have it) and a hand me down jean button down that I tend to just throw over basically anything.

Shout out to IHOP because when you sign up for their membership thing you get free pancakes on your birthday, plus my school discount let me eat there for like four bucks. Always check places for a student discount- life tip.

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20 Life Facts from 20 Years

Mary5 Comments

Today is my birthday, I’m now 20, it’s not as bad as I thought, so that’s good. I thought since I have to be up early and I want to get to bed after a long day of driving home and celebrations, I would just put up a little list of 20 things I have learned about life in my 20 years of life.

  1. If you surround yourself with positive you will be more positive, however, sadly, if you are surrounded by negative people you’re going to also be more negative.
  2. Not everyone will like you and that’s okay. If everyone liked you the chances of you being yourself are very slim. You can’t please everyone, and that’s good.
  3. Time will always show who really cares about you.
  4. Family will always be there for you, someone from your family will always care.
  5. Friends come and go, the best ones will always stay.
  6. It’s okay to eat cake and brownies until your stomach hurt, as long as you don’t do that everyday.
  7. Chocolate is the best medicine. Unless you’re allergic, then it’s the worst.
  8. It’s okay to skip class and take a mental health day, it’s just as important as a regular health day.
  9. Procrastinating to hang out with a someone you like is okay, just don’t do it all the time.
  10. A little bit of exercise, like a light walk or jog or run, can be more relaxing and detoxifying (Google autocorrect recommended that word and I’m using it) than sitting in a vegetative state in front of the TV.
  11. Laughing until you cry (or pee your pants) is the best, and that’s when you know you’re with great people.
  12. Just because someone is pretty on the outside doesn’t mean they are on the inside.
  13. A mom’s advice is usually right.
  14. Be careful with who you trust, it’s hard to know who will and will remain true to you.
  15. Take a risk every now and then, who knows it could change your life for the better.
  16. Don’t be afraid to be yourself, someone will accept you,  you just have to find the right people. Just don’t be a serial killer, if that’s yourself, hide it please.
  17. Happiness shouldn’t depend on a person or people, you should be able to make yourself happy with little things. If you’re happiness is all because of another person, that’s not healthy.
  18. Try not to spread rumors, if it affects you directly go to the source, if you must know, go to the source, but don’t try to get information about someone from everyone and their mother. Let rumors die and let people be happy.
  19. Smile even when you’re sad because happiness will always eventually find you, something can always make you happy.
  20. Life is high school, same drama different people. You can be that way or you can rise above, my advice, rise above. You have potential to be great and don’t let petty drama get in your way of being successful.

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Right Now.

MaryLeave a comment

Okay so it’s Sunday yet again, however this week has seems rather slow so it’s more like, Sunday is finally here. The week was very slow with class, going back to tutoring, and having an awesome weekend with friends. To be honest most of my week was rather boring and not much happened, it was slow and very unproductive. I was able to have lunch with my commuter friend Ashlee on Thursday but other than that it was rather dreary. Lab luckily got out early on Friday so I spent my evening with my friend Meag. She took me to this place for dinner I had never heard of, Noodles and Company, it was rather good. Our school had a showing of “The Butler” so we went to see that. I made a poor decision and ate popcorn which I’m allergic too and I couldn’t stop coughing the rest of the night. Whoops.  Then Saturday I got brunch to go and had to get ready for an afternoon/night out. As you probably know I went to Friendly’s and the coolest movie theater ever, but it’s really a process to get out there and back. Today Meag and I walked to church and enjoyed some coffee from Starbucks afterwards.  Today has been semi-busy with catching up with my parents, having a Google Hangout with Lindsay and Jade, doing homework, and editing the final week of winter break vlogging. So yeah that’s been this week.

Next week has a lot to come. I’m seriously hoping that there’s a snow day tomorrow, but we’ll see what happens. I would really like to get some cleaning done and a day off would probably make me do that. Anyway besides classes I have tutoring continuing on Wednesdays from now on.  My roommate should be approved to move out by this weekend so that’s also happening and I’ll be in a single, which I’m looking forward to. Then after my lab on Friday I will be heading home. Lindsay’s also home this weekend and hopefully I can see her and Katie on Friday. I’m working on Saturday at an unknown time, and hopefully seeing my sisters friends for her party. Then Sunday I’ll go to my church and my sister is having the family over for her birthday so I’ll try and make it through most of that, but at some point I’m going to have to leave to come back to school. Other than that I don’t have much going on this week, nothing too exciting.  If you don’t mind doing a little snow dance for me tonight I really wouldn’t mind ;) thanks for reading guys.

XOXO

Mary

After today trivia will be all caught up and I will never wait this long again to post it because that was the stupidest thing I have ever done.

Answers

January 23:  “Don’t Stop Believin'”

January 24:  Yellow and Pink

January 25:  Iowa and Ohio

January 26:  The water at Bondi beach in Sydney, Australia.

January 27:  6.

January 28:  Dallas in 1980.

January 29:  Severe Weather Threat Index.

January 30:  Sid.

January 31:  In the bloodstream.

February 1:  A certificate from a Dale Carnegie course he took.

Question

February 2:  When it comes to pizza, what is the cornicione?